UTMB research team recognized for work on traumatic brain injury detection

A team of researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch has been accepted into the prestigious National Science Foundation's National I-Corps^TM program for their groundbreaking research on traumatic brain injury detection and monitoring, with the potential to revolutionize the field.

The team is developing a new platform for the rapid detection and quantification of tissue and organ injury. Their innovative technology focuses on monitoring circulating extracellular vesicles in biospecimens and liquid biopsies to assess and predict the severity of tissue and organ injury, particularly in cases of TBI.

The NSF I-Corps program is a highly competitive initiative that aims to accelerate the commercialization of academic research. By providing researchers with the tools, resources and mentorship necessary to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and market-ready products, the program fosters a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within the scientific community.

Participants in the I-Corps program engage in a rigorous process of customer discovery, conducting interviews with potential customers, industry stakeholders and other key players to validate the commercial viability of their technology.

"We are thrilled to be part of the NSF I-Corps program," said team lead Dr. Bartosz Szczesny, an associate professor in the departments of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and Anesthesiology at UTMB. "This opportunity will allow us to gain invaluable insights into the commercialization process, helping us to refine our technology and better understand the needs of the market.

"The potential impact of our research on TBI detection is immense, and I-Corps will be instrumental in bringing our innovation to the patients who need it most," he added.

This technology is particularly significant given the challenges associated with current methods of TBI diagnosis, which often rely on subjective neurological examinations and imaging tests like CT and MRI scans. These methods can be prone to misdiagnosis, especially in mild cases of TBI, which are the most common.

The team's platform, which measures biomarkers within extracellular vesicles, offers a promising alternative by providing a more accurate, stable and reliable means of assessing head trauma.

The commercial potential of this technology is vast, with applications extending beyond TBI to the broader field of liquid biopsy, an evolving non-invasive diagnostic tool. As the market for liquid biopsy continues to grow, with an estimated potential exceeding $20 billion annually, the team's innovation could play a pivotal role in the future of precision medicine, particularly in the early detection and stratification of injuries and diseases.

The I-Corps program will provide Szczesny's team with access to a network of industry experts, mentors and fellow innovators, all of whom will contribute to the team's journey toward commercialization. As part of the program, the team will attend scientific conferences and engage with research and development directors to gather additional insights and refine their approach.

The team's technology currently is in the pre-clinical testing phase, and the I-Corps program will help them secure further validation and funding to support clinical testing and the development of a point-of-care device. As they move forward, the team remains focused on their mission to enhance the precision of TBI detection, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the economic burden associated with TBI treatment.

"At UTMB, we are committed to advancing innovative technologies that have the potential to transform health care," said Dr. Vineet Gupta, vice president for Innovation, Technology Development and Transfer at UTMB. "The NSF I-Corps program is a powerful vehicle for driving these innovations from the lab to the market. We are incredibly proud of Dr. Szczesny's team and look forward to seeing their technology make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients."

In addition to Szczesny, the team includes Dr. Michela Marcatti, a research scientist in the department of Neurology at UTMB, and Dr. Arun Balakumaran, a seasoned leader in the biomedical industry.

Szczesny, along with Drs. Massoud Motamedi from UTMB and Dr. Stefan Bossman from the University of Kansas Cancer Center, has filed a patent for this technology.